Written Answers Monday 27 August 2007

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many workers are covered by the orders made by the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board.

Richard Lochhead: The number of workers covered by the orders made by the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board is 67,011. This is made up of 26,097 full-time and 40,914 part-time and seasonal workers (June 2006 census).

Agriculture

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to review any of the orders made by the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board normally reviews the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Order on an annual basis. The next Order (Number 55) is due to come into force on 1 October 2007.

Alcohol Misuse

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many alcohol-related deaths there have been in each year since 1970.

Shona Robison: The information available is given in the following table. It uses a definition of alcohol-related deaths agreed with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in 2006 following wide consultation. Figures only include cases where the selected causes were the main cause of death.

  Information prior to 1979 is not available because the agreed definition does not cover the classification of causes of death used before 1979.

  Alcohol-Related Deaths1, Scotland, 1979-2006

  

1979
641
1986
568
1993
633
2000
1,292


1980
595
1987
569
1994
741
2001
1,398


1981
611
1988
627
1995
832
2002
1,487


1982
582
1989
626
1996
983
2003
1,525


1983
574
1990
657
1997
1,061
2004
1,478


1984
572
1991
624
1998
1,127
2005
1,513


1985
600
1992
582
1999
1,249
2006
1,546



  Source: General Register Office for Scotland.

  Notes:

  1. 1979-99: ICD9 codes: 291, 303, 305.0, 425.5, 571.0-571.5, 571.8-571.9, E860.

  2. 2000-06: ICD10 codes: F10, G31.2, G62.1, I42.6, K29.2, K70, K73, K74 (excl. K74.3-K74.5), K86.0, X45, X65, Y15.

Autism

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to enhance the training of (a) new and (b) experienced teachers in addressing the needs of children with autism.

Adam Ingram: The Executive is funding a pioneering new project at Aberdeen University, providing £1.39 million over 2005-10, to embed inclusive approaches to teaching for pupils with additional support needs, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), within initial teacher education. The findings and best practice will be disseminated to other initial teacher education providers.

  The Executive also provides education authorities with £7.2 million per year specifically for the training and development of staff working with pupils with additional support needs. The priority is to tailor educational provision to meet the needs of the individual pupil. A further £13.5 million is issued annually to allow local authorities to co-ordinate and provide continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers.

  Additionally, following recent talks with the Executive, the General Teaching Council Scotland has now added five new areas to their professional recognition framework, one of which is Additional Support Needs - Autism.

Cancer

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the rates of uptake of cancer screening in the Greater Glasgow area.

Shona Robison: The uptake of screening in the Greater Glasgow area is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. However, the National Advisory Group on Breast and Cervical Screening are monitoring the decline in uptake rates for cervical screening and will provide advice as to what might be done nationally in support of local action to reverse the decline.

Cancer

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the national bowel screening programme will be available in all NHS board areas.

Shona Robison: The programme roll-out started in June 2007 and is due to be available in all NHS board areas in December 2009.

Cancer

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what projected impact the national bowel screening programme will have on deaths from bowel cancer.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Bowel Screening Programme is expected to save over 150 lives per year when fully implemented.

Care of Elderly People

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that Argyll and Bute Council has the necessary resources to provide services for older people.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that Argyll and Bute Council will spend the resources allocated for services to older people for that purpose.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is aware that Argyll and Bute Council spends less than its grant aided expenditure allocation on community care services. That is a matter for the council. The council is required to meet its statutory responsibilities for the assessment and delivery of services to older people in its area. It is for the council to determine the most appropriate allocation of the total resources available to it to meet these and its other responsibilities.

Care of Elderly People

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the grant aided expenditure awarded to Argyll and Bute Council for older people’s services for each year since 1999 and the amount spent.

Shona Robison: The information requested is shown in the following table.

  

 
Grant Aided Expenditure Allocations
(£ Million)
Revenue Expenditure
(£ Million)


1999-2000
11.630
5.056


2000-01
11.802
6.297


2001-02
13.197
7.119


2002-03
19.070
16.885


2003-04
21.955
17.514


2004-05
22.215
18.447


2005-06
22.874
19.562


2006-07
25.158
not yet available


2007-08
26.592
not yet available



  Notes:

  1. Grant aided expenditure (GAE) allocations are derived from aggregating a number of sub-categories which together make up the older people’s services GAE line.

  2. Revenue expenditure is sourced from Local Financial Return (LFR) 3, completed by local authorities, which covers social work services.

  3. Revenue spending may differ from the GAE allocation for a number of reasons. Firstly, the GAE allocations given are neither budgets nor spending targets for older people’s services. They are components used in distributing the total block grant that the Executive provides to local authorities. Secondly, it is for each local authority to decide how best to allocate the resulting overall block grant across all its services, based on local needs and priorities.

  4. The LFR3 return was revised in 2002-03 as part of a review of all LFRs. Due to the changes, pre 2002-03 figures are not directly comparable with those for 2002-03 onwards.

Care of Elderly People

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to ensure that its care standards require fresh drinking water to be (a) made available and (b) regularly offered to care home residents throughout the day.

Shona Robison: The National Care Standards for care homes describe what each individual person can expect from a service provider. They focus on the quality of life that the person using the service actually experiences.

  Included in the standards is the right to have snacks and hot and cold drinks whenever a resident wishes.

Children in Care

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government intends to publish the National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy later this year.

Children in Care

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase the level of kinship payments to bring them into line with those provided for foster carers.

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct local authorities to make full use of their discretionary powers in order that those claiming kinship allowance can receive payments equal to those paid to foster carers.

Adam Ingram: I am considering a range of measures to improve the support available to kinship carers and to children in their care. I will announce my proposals in the National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy which will be published later this year.

  In addition, I recently announced funding of £4 million to cover a number of matters, including:

  Increasing training opportunities to enhance the skills of both foster carers and kinship carers;

  Establishing a national information and advice service for kinship carers through Citizens Advice Scotland, and

  Introduction of a national framework for the assessment and approval of kinship carers.

Defence

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the commitment made by the Minister for Parliamentary Business on 14 June 2007 ( Official Report c. 709), what progress has been made on convening a summit with key stakeholders to agree a joint position against renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons system; on what date the summit will take place, and which key stakeholders will be invited to participate.

Bruce Crawford: Initial planning has begun with a view to the summit taking place in Glasgow later this year. The precise date, the venue and those to be invited to participate are under consideration.

Diabetes

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were diagnosed with (a) type 1 and (b) type 2 diabetes in each year since 1990, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: Information on the prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes is available at NHS board level from the annual Scottish Diabetes Survey. The Survey, which was first published in 2001, includes data from primary and secondary care and is currently the most comprehensive source of information on diabetes in Scotland. The most recent report (for 2005) is available at:  http://www.diabetesinscotland.org/diabetes/MaintainPages/pdfFiles/SDS2005.pdf .

  The Scottish Public Health Observatory (ScotPHO) website (www.scotpho.org.uk) provides a guide to further sources of information on diabetes in Scotland (under the Health, Wellbeing and Disease tab).

Diabetes

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence is of (a) type 1 and (b) type 2 diabetes and what comparable information it has for (i) the United Kingdom as a whole, (ii) each EU member state and (iii) each OECD nation.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Diabetes Survey draws on data from primary and secondary care and currently represents the most comprehensive source of information on diabetes at Scotland level. The most recent report (2005) includes information on the prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, nationally and at NHS board level. The report is available at:  http://www.diabetesinscotland.org/diabetes/MaintainPages/pdfFiles/SDS2005.pdf .

  The Scottish Public Health Observatory (ScotPHO) website provides links to international sources of information on diabetes, most commonly prevalence. Note however that variations in the source of data and completeness of recording make these comparisons unreliable. These links can be accessed at: http://www.scotpho.org.uk/web/site/home/Healthwell-beinganddisease/Diabetes/diabetes_usefullinks.asp.

  International comparisons of diabetes prevalence have been usefully reviewed by Wild et al (Wild S, Roglic G, Green A, Sicree R, King H. Global prevalence of diabetes: estimates for the year 2000 and projections for 2030. Diabetes Care 2004; 27:1047-53).

Dyslexia

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions it is making to ensure better diagnosis of dyslexia within the education system.

Adam Ingram: Under the Education (Additional Support for Learning)(Scotland) Act 2004, education authorities have a duty to identify, provide for and keep under review the additional support needs of each pupil for whose education they are responsible. This should ensure that dyslexia is identified as early possible.

  Significant funding is provided to education authorities to support the education of children with additional support needs including dyslexia. In 2007-08, this includes, £61.7 million for implementation of the Education (Additional Support for Learning ) (Scotland) Act 2004, the inclusion of pupils with additional support needs in mainstream schools, the training and development of school staff working with pupils with additional support needs and accessibility to education for pupils with disabilities.

  In addition, HM Inspectorate of Education is undertaking a specific evaluation of dyslexia over the period 2007-08, which will provide a clear picture of identification, provision and practice across Scotland.

Education

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will broaden the introduction of its policy to reduce class sizes, in light of the number of newly qualified teachers without permanent teaching posts.

Maureen Watt: Our commitments to increase the number of teachers in the early years and to reduce P1 to P3 to a maximum of 18 will require substantial numbers of new primary teachers. Early progress has been made with our announcement of additional funding for local authorities to employ 300 additional teachers not all of whom are yet in post.

Energy

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion it has had with Ofgem regarding the development of proposals on zonal transmission loss charging.

Jim Mather: I wrote to Ofgem on 31 July 2007 on the Executive’s concerns over Ofgem’s proposals to introduce zonal transmission loss charging. A copy of the letter has been made available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43475).

  The First Minister will meet with the Chairman of Ofgem on 20 September 2007 to raise concerns about transmission charging, which the Executive considers disadvantages Scottish generators, the development of renewable energy resources, and works against UK and Scottish energy and climate change policy objectives.

European Parliament

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it views the Electoral Commission’s recommendation about the number of members of the European Parliament to represent Scotland.

Linda Fabiani: The Electoral Commission’s recommendation is fair under the terms of the legislation by which it is bound. Nevertheless, on behalf of Scottish ministers I have written to both the Electoral Commission and the Secretary of State for Justice stating our opposition to the terms of an act which does not properly reflect the devolved and political context in which the MEPs representing Scotland operate.

Higher Education

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) higher and (b) further education students there were in (a) 1950, (b) 1960, (c) 1970, (d) 1980 and (e) each year since 1990.

Fiona Hyslop: The following table lists the number of student enrolments at Scottish higher education institutions and further education colleges from 1951-52 to 2005-06.

  Students Studying Higher and Further Education at Scottish Institutions: 1951-52 to 2005-06

  

Academic Year
HE Students
FE Students


1951-52*
15,010†
N/A


1961-62*
19,435†
N/A


1971-72*
37,800†
N/A


1981-82*
105,765
277,510


1990-91*
137,930
N/A 


1991-92*
151,090
N/A


1992-93*
167,185
N/A


1993-94*
179,730
N/A


1994-95
201,880
212,075


1995-96
215,205
260,150


1996-97
238,095
314,530


1997-98
247,655
342,325


1998-99
255,965
350,445


1999-00
259,390
362,425


2000-01
262,915
414,395


2001-02
272,625
450,790


2002-03
267,025
430,055


2003-04
271,865
411,560


2004-05
276,705
398,120


2005-06
285,180
395,660



  Sources: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and Scottish Office statistical bulletins.

  Notes:

  †These figures are for university students only.

  Student data prior to academic year 1994-95 is not held centrally by the Scottish Executive.

  Some historic figures (shown as N/A) are not held centrally.

Higher Education

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many higher education students there have been from (a) England and Wales, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) the rest of the European Union and (d) elsewhere in each year since 1990.

Fiona Hyslop: The following table lists the number of student enrolments at Scottish higher education institutions and further education colleges from 1994-95 to 2005-06 from outside Scotland.

  Data on student numbers by domicile before 1994-95 are not held centrally.

  Students Studying Higher Education at Scottish Institutions by Domicile: 1990-91 to 2005-06

  

Academic Year
England
Wales
Northern Ireland
EU
Europe
Overseas


1994-95
21,055
665
4,575
4,840
1,305
9,505


1995-96
21,285
670
5,215
5,935
1,240
11,705


1996-97
21,535
670
5,790
7,345
1,540
13,515


1997-98
21,835
645
6,135
8,245
1,520
15,005


1998-99
21,675
675
6,185
8,320
1,695
15,910


1999-2000
19,465
615
5,915
8,550
1,710
13,815


2000-01
20,625
615
5,815
9,070
2,035
17,770


2001-02
21,315
665
4,580
9,385
2,170
21,930


2002-03
20,505
630
5,640
9,995
2,160
24,240


2003-04
20,220
625
5,550
10,585
2,120
26,185


2004-05
20,190
625
5,365
11,695
1,720
30,075


2005-06
21,145
650
5,195
12,745
1,860
36,540



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), Scottish Funding Council (SFC).

  Note: The figures in this table have been rounded to the nearest 5. 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0.

Higher Education

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value has been of tuition fees paid to higher education institutions by foreign students in each year since 1990.

Fiona Hyslop: The total income of Scottish Higher Education Institutions from fees paid by non EU students was:

  

1994-95
£46,172,000


1995-96
£50,543,000


1996-97
£53,895,000


1997-98
£56,353,000


1998-99
£57,682,000


1999-2000
£62,868,000


2000-01
£68,502,000


2001-02
£78,420,000


2002-03
£95,443,000


2003-04
£107,829,000


2004-05
£124,774,000


2005-06
£143,896,000



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Note: Data for 1990 to 1993 are not held centrally.

Higher Education

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in terms of full university status for the University of the Highlands and Islands, it will look to the example of the University of Cumbria which gained university status from 1 August 2007.

Fiona Hyslop: The model which UHI Millennium Institute has based their applications for taught degree-awarding powers and university title on has distinctive characteristics which are different to any other institution in the UK. Therefore it would not be straightforward for UHI Millennium Institute to use the University of Cumbria, or any other institution, as an example in gaining university title.

  The power to grant consent for the use of university title lies with the Privy Council under section 49 of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992. UHI Millennium Institute’s applications are with the UK Universities Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and its Advisory Committee on Degree Awarding Powers (ACDAP). The criteria applied by QAA to the University of Cumbria in assessing its suitability for university status will also be applied to UHI Millennium Institute.

  The Scottish Executive continues to support UHI Millennium Institute in its aspiration for university title and officials are working closely with UHI Millennium Institute, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Quality Assurance Agency and the Scottish Funding Council.

Historic Monuments

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland since May 2007.

Linda Fabiani: I met with the Chair and Chief Executive of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland at their premises on 17 July 2007 and discussed the wide range of activities it currently undertakes.

Housing

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2221 by Stewart Maxwell on 30 July 2007, what the average cost is of constructing a home for private sale.

Stewart Maxwell: The information requested is not held centrally. Costs will vary to some degree between locations and according to the economies of scale which can be achieved. Different factors will affect build costs in urban and rural areas, as will the nature and condition of development sites. Consideration also needs to be given to the cost of land in any development.

Housing

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Communities Scotland, Cumbernauld Housing Partnership and North Lanarkshire Council in relation to the redevelopment of the MacIehose and Ainslie road areas in Cumbernauld and when some progress on the work can be expected.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Scottish Government officials, including those in Communities Scotland, have discussed various aspects of the redevelopment of the Maclehose and Ainslie Road areas in Cumbernauld with Cumbernauld Housing Partnership and North Lanarkshire Council. These discussions have referred to financial support for owner occupiers to participate in the redevelopment of the area, and arrangements for the Compulsory Purchase of properties in the area. The contract for the first phase of replacement housing has been let, and work will commence on site on 27 August 2007.

Housing

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding will be available to Cumbernauld Housing Partnership in the event that its merger with Sanctuary Housing is approved by relevant authorities.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  There are no plans to provide additional funding to Cumbernauld Housing Partnership as a consequence of it’s proposed group structure arrangement with Sanctuary (Scotland) Housing Association. The association however would be eligible to apply for Housing Association grant to develop new housing in the area.

Housing

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the proposed merger of Cumbernauld Housing Partnership (CHP) and Sanctuary Housing should be subject to a democratic vote by tenants of CHP as an integral part of the merger process.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond.

  Her response is as follows:

  Cumbernauld Housing Partnership (CHP) and Sanctuary (Scotland) Housing Association have agreed in principle that they wish to form a group structure. CHP will fully consult its tenants about the group proposals.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2534 by Stewart Maxwell on 9 August 2007, how ministers will ensure that there is adequate provision of new rented and homestake housing to meet the needs of Clydebank and how this will be reflected in the spending priorities of Communities Scotland.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Communities Scotland is working with West Dunbartonshire Council, Registered Social Landlords and other partners to develop a medium-term Strategic Housing Investment Plan which will link identified housing needs to investment levels. The Council needs to supplement Communities Scotland’s investment with a policy of strategic housing land release, and an effective affordable housing planning policy to harness potential private sector contributions.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2534 by Stewart Maxwell on 9 August 2007, how ministers will ensure that investment in the refurbishment and renovation of existing housing in Clydebank, and in replacing obsolete or obsolescent housing in the town, is made available so that Clydebank is not disadvantaged relative to other localities within the Glasgow housing market area.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angelina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Discussions are currently taking place between Communities Scotland and West Dunbartonshire Council to identify unsuitable and low demand housing stock within the Clydebank area, but it is the responsibility of the council to address such stock deficiencies within their Local Housing Strategy (LHS). The Strategic Housing Investment Plan, which the council is required to develop in consultation with Communities Scotland, registered social landlords (RSL) and other partners, will set down, over the medium term, actions and investment levels to address the replacement/refurbishment of poor quality housing as identified within the LHS.

  A robust LHS and comprehensive Strategic Housing Investment Plan are key to determining the levels of funding required and the allocation of resources. It is the responsibility of West Dunbartonshire Council to submit these plans to Communities Scotland who will assess them in accordance with its published guidance. Clydebank will, therefore, have the same opportunities to access investment as all other areas across Scotland.

Industry

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to increase the size of the manufacturing sector.

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-2593 and S3W-2595 on 21 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

International Relations

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what rationale determined its decision to increase Scotland’s international aid budget.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government is determined to build on the international development work that was begun by the previous administration. We have confirmed that our commitment to Malawi will continue at the current level of £3 million a year, but we are also aware that there are other countries with links to Scotland that need assistance to secure a better, more sustainable future. This requires a significant increase to the existing level of funding and full details will be set out as part of the spending review.

International Relations

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how regularly it meets non-governmental organisations, such as the Scotland Malawi Partnership, to discuss relevant international development issues.

Linda Fabiani: Both I and my officials have met with bodies such as the Network of International Development Organisations in Scotland and the Scotland-Malawi Partnership, as well as relevant non-governmental organisations to discuss international development and that will continue as required.

Livestock

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the pilot for electronic sheep identification will be put in place; what areas it will cover; how much it will cost, and who will pay for it.

Richard Lochhead: No decisions have yet been taken on the shape or form of an Electronic Identification (EID) pilot in Scotland. The Executive will take account of the most recent trials and research and work with the European Commission in developing a larger scale pilot. The joint Government/Industry Working Group will look in detail at any proposals and make recommendations on the format of it to ensure the best outcomes for the Scottish Sheep Industry.

Marine Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken since 28 June 2007, using its powers under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 as amended, to address the proposed ship-to-ship transfer of oil in the Firth of Forth.

Richard Lochhead: We continue to monitor progress by Forth Ports in completing the Appropriate Assessment. As I explained to Parliament, in the debate on 28 June 2007, the regulation of ship-to-ship oil transfer is currently reserved to the UK Government under Section 130 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

  Following the debate on 28 June 2007 I wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport on this matter and our discussions with the UK Government continue.

Marine Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what correspondence or discussions it has had with Forth Ports plc since 28 June 2007 in relation to the proposed ship-to-ship transfer of oil in the Firth of Forth.

Richard Lochhead: The First Minister met with representatives from Forth Ports on 31 July 2007 and discussed a number of issues, including the ship-to-ship oil transfer proposals in the Firth of Forth.

Marine Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has received from, or discussions it has had with, Scottish Natural Heritage since 28 June 2007 in relation to the proposed ship-to-ship transfer of oil in the Firth of Forth.

Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-1843 on 16 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Marine Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects Forth Ports plc to publish for consultation its appropriate assessment of the proposed ship-to-ship transfer of oil in the Firth of Forth.

Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-1841 on 15 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Meat Industry

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will make to the UK Government and the European Union to prevent the import of Brazilian beef into Scotland and the UK.

Richard Lochhead: Following representations about this matter from the Scottish Beef Cattle Association and others I discussed the position with the then Secretary of State for the Environment and Rural Affairs on 18 June 2006. As a consequence the UK Government raised the issue with the EU Commission the following day. I then wrote directly to Commissioner Kyprianou on 3 July 2007 underlining my concerns.

NHS Hospitals

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has been given of the additional cost of retaining accident and emergency services at Monklands Hospital above the estimated cost of implementing the original proposal.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what service provision in Lanarkshire is to be discontinued, delayed or otherwise affected as a result of the NHS board being required to meet the additional cost of retaining accident and emergency services at Monklands Hospital.

Shona Robison: As outlined in the Cabinet Secretary’s statement in the Chamber on 6 June 2007, we have instructed the board of NHS Lanarkshire to review their original plans and to produce revised proposals that will enable accident and emergency services to continue at the three main hospital sites in the region. We have been clear that, as far as possible within the resources available to the board, we want them to retain their primary care and community development programmes.

  We recognise that there are many issues to address, for example relating to clinical workload and staffing. We want these challenges to be faced up to in a way that puts patients first and is innovative.

  It is now a matter for the board to determine how best to deliver these services and to produce proposals. Their proposals will then undergo a process of independent scrutiny, following which the Cabinet Secretary expects to take a decision by the turn of the year.

NHS Hospitals

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers are satisfied that due process was followed by the relevant NHS boards in putting forward their original proposals regarding accident and emergency services in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire.

Shona Robison: Consideration of the process for the original proposals was a matter for the previous administration. As the Cabinet Secretary said in her statement on 6 June 2007, we believe that the decisions to close the accident and emergency departments at Monklands Hospital and Ayr Hospital were wrong, because in our view NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s review of services and NHS Lanarkshire’s picture of health review failed to address sufficiently the very real concerns of a significant proportion of their local populations.

NHS Hospitals

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what service provision in Ayrshire and Arran is to be discontinued, delayed or otherwise affected as a result of the NHS board being required to meet the additional cost of retaining accident and emergency services at Ayr Hospital.

Shona Robison: As outlined in the Cabinet Secretary’s statement in the Chamber on 6 June 2007, we have instructed the board of NHS Ayrshire and Arran to review their original plans and to produce revised proposals that will enable accident and emergency services to continue at both sites in Ayrshire. We have been clear that, as far as possible within the resources available to the board, we want them to retain their primary care and community development programmes.

  We recognise that there are many issues to address, for example relating to clinical workload and staffing. We want these challenges to be faced up to in a way that puts patients first and is innovative.

  It is now a matter for the board to determine how best to deliver these services and to produce proposals. Their proposals will then undergo a process of independent scrutiny, following which the Cabinet Secretary expects to take a decision by the turn of the year.

Public Sector Staff

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed by (a) it, (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies and (c) local authorities.

John Swinney: The official source of public sector employment is the Quarterly Public Sector Employment in Scotland series. Table 1 shows the number of people employed in the public sector in Q1 2007 (the latest data available).

  Table 1 Public Sector Employment in Scotland Q1 2007

  

 
Head Count


Total Public Sector1
580,500


of which
 


Scottish Executive (core departments)
4,400


Scottish Executive Agencies and associated departments
12,200


Other Civil Service in Scotland2
33,600


Local Government (excluding Fire and Police)
290,000


Fire, Police and related service
30,400


Scottish Non Departmental Public Bodies
11,100


UK wide Non Departmental Public Bodies
3,200


Public Corporations3
25,500


NHS
152,800


Armed Forces
13,500


Other Central Government
3,400



  Source: Quarterly Public Sector Employment in Scotland

  Notes:

  1. Based on the National Accounts definition.

  2. Other civil service data are based on permanent staff only.

  3. Includes public corporations with a UK-wide remit.

  4. Data are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Rail Network

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has finalised the procurement plans for the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line rolling stock and whether it will meet the procurement deadline of December 2010.

Stewart Stevenson: The rolling stock procurement plan continues to be developed by Transport Scotland alongside the wider procurement plan to address the requirements of both the major projects, including Airdrie to Bathgate, and the increasing demands for rail services. Transport Scotland is confident that it can successfully procure the rolling stock needed to continue growing Scotland’s railways, and the procurement plan is on schedule to meet the delivery deadline for the Airdrie to Bathgate project of December 2010.

Rail Network

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether plans to transfer rolling stock to the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line from other parts of the rail network will place undue pressure on the capacity of rolling stock across the network.

Stewart Stevenson: The rolling stock procurement plan continues to be developed by Transport Scotland alongside the wider procurement plan to address the requirements of both the Major Projects, including Airdrie to Bathgate, and the increasing demands for rail services. Transport Scotland is confident that it can successfully procure the rolling stock needed to continue growing Scotland’s railways, and the procurement plan is on schedule to meet the delivery deadline for the Airdrie to Bathgate project of December 2010. No decision has been made on the type of rolling stock that will be deployed on the route.

Recycling

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for recycling from (a) domestic and (b) commercial sources.

Richard Lochhead: The National Waste Plan set out targets of 25% recycling and composting of municipal waste by 2006, and 55% by 2020. Spending Review 2004 also set a target of 30% recycling and composting of municipal waste by 2008.

  Municipal waste is waste collected by, or on behalf of, local authorities and includes waste from both domestic and commercial sources.

  In addition, the producer responsibility regimes for packaging, for end of life vehicles and for waste electronics set recovery targets for these categories of waste.

Recycling

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether business waste collected from business users, along with waste from domestic users, is counted in targets for recycling by local authorities.

Richard Lochhead: Recycling targets relate to municipal waste which includes waste that is under the control of local authorities from commercial premises.

Recycling

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what controls local authorities can apply in encouraging business users to contribute their fair share in meeting recycling targets.

Richard Lochhead: Local authorities operate trade waste collection services and so may encourage business users to recycle through the introduction of recycling schemes or differential charging schemes for segregated waste.

Recycling

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has figures available to estimate how many households regularly recycle household waste.

Richard Lochhead: Research carried out by the Scottish Waste Awareness Group during 2005 and 2006 showed that 81% of Scottish Householders are now recycling at least some of their household waste. The latest recycling results from the Scottish Household Survey, published in June 2007, also show that 80% of householders are recycling at least one type of material.

Recycling

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authority areas have a policy of collecting household waste for recycling.

Richard Lochhead: All 32 local authorities collect household waste for recycling. Local authority recycling rates are reported on the Scottish Environment Protection Agency website at: www.sepa.org.uk/nws/data/index.htm .

  Householders can find out what recycling services are available in their area on the Sort-it website at www.sort-it.org.uk.

Recycling

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage recycling.

Richard Lochhead: We provide support to local authorities and other delivery bodies through the Strategic Waste Fund to increase recycling rates. Future funding for recycling is being considered as part of the Spending Review and, in line with the commitment in our Its time to look forward: The first 100 days of an SNP Government my officials recently held a workshop with local authorities and other delivery partners to discuss future plans for increasing recycling.

Roads

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will abide by the findings of a public inquiry into the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project.

Stewart Stevenson: The findings of a Public Local Inquiry are the statement of facts from the reporter.

  Scottish ministers will consider the recommendations made in the report of any Public Local Inquiry before making a decision.

Rural Development

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the delay in securing European Commission approval of the Scottish Rural Development Programme, whether the Executive can confirm that Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme payments for 2007 will be issued to farmers before the end of the year, if necessary as "at risk" payments pending EU approval of the programme.

Richard Lochhead: We are currently considering contingency plans should approval of the Scotland Rural Development Programme be delayed. It remains our intention to make Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme payments for 2007 at around the end of the year.

Sports Funding

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2255 by Stewart Maxwell on 1 August 2007, to what extent the Lothians will benefit should Glasgow’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games be successful.

Stewart Maxwell: The whole of Scotland will benefit from a Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Net economic benefits of £81 million, and 1,200 net new jobs are predicted at a Scottish level.

  The Scottish Government will work with relevant bodies to ensure that the opportunity to share in these benefits is spread throughout Scotland. The extent to which any given region of Scotland will benefit will depend on the level of engagement from local authorities, businesses and organisations in that region.

  Throughout the bid phase, work to ensure all regions of Scotland are involved in and benefit from the bid has been taken forward by the Glasgow 2014 All of Scotland Group consisting of representatives from local authorities.

Teachers

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it intends to take to ensure that teachers in their probation year under the alternative route find full-time employment.

Maureen Watt: The Scottish Executive carries out a teacher workforce planning exercise with the aim of broadly balancing the supply and demand for teachers. During the Smarter Scotland debate on 20 June we announced additional funding of £9 million that will enable local authorities to employ an additional 300 primary teachers. However, the employment of new teachers and the type of contract under which they are employed are matters for local authorities.

Teachers

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many probationary teachers have been unable to find a teaching job in the last five years.

Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-1391 on 17 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  Information on years prior to 2005-06 is not held centrally.

Teachers

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that newly qualified teachers who have completed their probationary terms have the opportunity to apply for full-time teaching posts in Scotland.

Maureen Watt: There are no impediments to teachers who have completed their probationary year from applying for advertised teaching posts in Scotland.

Teachers

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will increase local authority funding with a view to increasing the recruitment of newly qualified teachers.

Maureen Watt: During the Smarter Scotland debate on 20 June 2007 the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning announced additional funding to enable local authorities to employ an additional 300 teachers.

Teachers

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that local authorities do not use supply teachers or probationer teachers to limit the number of available new permanent teaching posts.

Maureen Watt: The employment of teachers is a matter for local authorities as employers. All local authorities have agreed to offer probationers posts on the Induction year. Not all posts are suitable for probationers and it is the responsibility of local authorities to identify those that are.

Teachers

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why it is allocating funding to local authorities to employ an additional 300 newly qualified teachers given the position in the market for probationer teachers.

Maureen Watt: The teacher induction scheme guarantees an offer of a one-year teaching post to newly qualified, eligible probationer teachers. Since the scheme’s inception in 2002, an offer of a place has been made for 100% of eligible probationers.

  An additional £9 million has been made available to local authorities this year to employ a further 300 teachers with a particular emphasis being placed on the employment of teachers who have just completed their one year induction.

Voluntary Sector

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with volunteering infrastructure bodies to ensure that it receives value for money.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Executive funds only Volunteer Development Scotland and the network of 32 volunteer centres as volunteering infrastructure bodies.

  Value for money is ensured by the agreement of a business plan, a sound grant application and on-going monitoring. Regular meetings are held with volunteering infrastructure bodies to discuss a range of topics, including best use of resources.

Warm Deal

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it believes the maximum grant available under the Warm Deal should be in order to ensure that each home of four bedrooms or less in receipt of grant will receive loft insulation with associated cold and hot water tank insulation, cavity wall insulation, draught-proofing, four energy efficient light bulbs and energy advice.

Stewart Maxwell: When partnered with Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) funding and, from next March, Carbon Efficiency Reduction Target (CERT) funding, the current grant should be sufficient to cover all necessary insulation measures in most cases.

Waste Management

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for the reduction of waste going to landfill.

Richard Lochhead: Under the EU Landfill Directive, the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill in Scotland must not exceed 1.32 million tonnes by 2010, 0.88 million tonnes by 2013 and 0.62 million tonnes by 2020. The Landfill Allowance Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2005 ensure that each local authority has to landfill within a limit consistent with Scotland achieving these targets.

  The National Waste Plan sets out aims to stop the growth in the amount of municipal solid waste produced by 2010 and reduce the landfilling of municipal waste to 30% by 2020.